This is the second part of the Canon EOS 5D Mk III and lens feature, where we’ll be looking at how the camera performs with standard, fixed focal length lenses and zooms. We’ve measured 35 different models in combination with the 22.3 Mpix EOS 5D Mk III, to see which of those lenses are the most suited to the sensor in terms of image quality using our DxOMark Score.

General Overview

Having a similar field of view to the human visual system ‘normal’ or ‘standard’ lenses, with a focal length of around 50mm, were immensely popular and at one time were supplied more or less with every camera. That’s not the case now as most DSLRs are supplied with a ‘starter or kit’ zoom.

However, even that category doesn’t quite fit that well with today’s full-frame cameras. It is perhaps the realization that prime lenses offer far greater IQ and faster (brighter) maximum apertures with greater control over depth of field that we are seeing something of a renaissance with fixed focal length lenses.

Normal lenses, such as the 50mm, and short telephoto lenses (from 70 to 135mm) are the easiest to design and correct for aberrations, zooms less so because of their complexity.

Of the 35 individual models assessed in the DxOMark labs for this feature with the Canon EOS 5D Mk III, 8 of the fixed focal length lenses cover 40mm to 50mm range. Of the primes with a focal length of 70 to 135mm, we’ve tested 16 different models to cover a range of budgets.

Finally, we’ll look at standard zooms. These offer versatility but they usually have a ‘slower’ maximum aperture and more aberrated. To help make it easy to select the most appropriate according to budget and optical performance, we have data from 11 models.

Image quality overview

Fixed focal length lenses of 85mm and 105mm achieve the highest scores, followed by the ‘normal’ 40mm and 50mm lenses with zooms bringing up the rear.

Conventional wisdom says normal and short-telephoto lenses the best performers in terms of image quality, as they have the fewer compromises to their optical design, and that’s borne out by our comprehensive test data. Of those, it was the 85mm lenses that performed best in IQ, with the 50mm lenses coming in slightly behind the 85mm and 100/105mm models.

Typical uses for normal lenses, 40/50mm and short telephotos include reportage and portraits, but they’re so versatile they‘re used in a number of genres. High speed, high-grade models are expensive. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L is around $1,600 and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is dearer still at $2,300 but there are cheaper, arguably better value alternatives.

The new EF 40mm f/2.8 STM from Canon can’t compare in ‘speed’ to the f/1.2 maximum aperture of 50mm L series lens, but it’s an excellent performer optically, yet costs $249. Also noteworthy is the new Tamron SP24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD. Not only is it a great performer, coming close to the Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM in, it’s stabilized, has an ultrasonic type AF motor and retails for $1299.

Macro lenses are usually designed with different set of objectives in mind, such as a flat field and optimized IQ for short distances. They’re also usually designed to a higher price. At $1280, the Zeiss Makro Planar T* 50mm f2 ZE isn’t cheap but with an Overall DxOMark Score of 30 points it is the best performing normal lens on the Canon EOS 5D Mk III. This lens won’t suit everybody, though. For a start it doesn’t have autofocus (it is manual focus only), and it’s relatively heavy in weight. Be that as it may, the f/2 maximum aperture is ‘fast’ (ultra-fast for a macro lens) and so it makes for a very versatile choice.

As the dearest of those tested, however, one might expect the high-speed Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM to perform well. It’s not without some shortcomings, but when stopped down a little, the imaging performance is excellent across the frame, contributing to the overall DxOMark score of 29. The super-compact Canon ‘pancake’ also achieves the same overall 29-points, resulting from good scores for Sharpness, Transmission and Distortion. However, sharpness across the frame can’t match the more pricey 50mm.

If those three are all too extreme in one way or another, with a DxOMark score of 29, the $499 Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM has a good balance of features (fast maximum aperture, AF and quality build) or if brand loyalty is strong, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 and f/1.4 autofocus lenses also make sensible choices.

The choice for short telephoto lenses is wider as it encompasses both 85mm and the 100/105mm focal lengths, the latter providing a little more comfortable working distance for the subjects when taking portraits. This focal length is also popular for macro lenses, where a greater working distance allows more flexibility with lighting set-ups.

Sigma took the third place for normal lenses but in this category, the ultra-fast 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM portrait lens sits at the number one position with an Overall DxOMark Score of 35. With a clear lead in points over the popular and highly regarded Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM and renowned Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T 100mm f/2 ZE and Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM models this is a surprising result, especially given the price difference (and reputation) of the latter lens. Even so, the Sigma is a newer design utilizing low-dispersion glass and the latest coatings.

More affordable options include the $299 Samyang (branded as Rokinon, Pro-Optic or Bower in the USA) 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical IF. This Korea made lens ranks fifth in this comparison with a very respectable DxOMark Score of 30. Although the image quality is high, just beating the Sigma 70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro and prestigious Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4, bear in mind that like the latter lens the Samyang is manual focus only.

Zoom lenses may have a lot of benefits and are hugely popular but rarely can they match the definition and quality of prime lenses. Canon has been at the forefront of zoom design for three decades but only recently has the company challenged the perception that zooms have to be second best when it comes to image quality.

The new EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM has raised the bar in optical quality and so it comes as little surprise to learn that, when mounted to the Canon EOS 5D Mk III, it’s the highest performing standard zoom with a DxOMark score of 28 points. Despite the accolades for the Canon, Tamron has also introduced a noteworthy example in the shape of the new SP 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD. It may not have the same pro-quality build but at $1000 less than the Canon its optical quality is excellent, plus the lens is stabilized, a feature that’s now seen as lacking from the Canon.

Conclusion

Normal and short telephoto primes with their fast apertures allow appealing perspectives with additional creative possibilities over the slower zooms, but they too have their advantages in terms of versatility and are often a cost effective option. While the lenses in the three categories have a slightly different purpose it’s quite clear which of those models perform optimally on the Canon EOS 5D Mk III. The combination of a very efficient sensor means the Canon EOS 5D Mk III can compare favorably with sharpness and detail rendition to the Nikon D800 in spite of the advantage it has in pixel count when matched with high-quality lenses.

Further readings for the Which lenses should you choose for your Canon EOS 5D Mark III?

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

After evaluating the performance characteristics of lenses mounted on full-frame models such as Nikon D800 and D600, as well as the Canon EOS 5D Mk III, we’ve now had the opportunity to analyze a range of lenses on the Sony SLT-A99. In this concise report, we’ll see how well the combination of Sony’s high-end image sensor and the latest Alpha mount lenses perform.

Comments

Lenses for a D5 Mark III

I will go to HK to buy a Canon D5 Mk II to replace my EOS 450D. I have a very good lens on my 450 (Canon EF28-135mm Ultrasonic). I intend buying to go with the D5 the Tamron 24-70 f2.8 Di VC USD and the Canon 50mm f1.2L or the Sigma 50mm F1.4 USM (if money is tight). I know where I'll know where to buy the camera as I have lived in HK and now live in China. As this is my last big spend on camera equipment, can someone say if the Canon EF 28-135MM, the Canon 50mm 1.2L and the Tamron 24-70mm lenses would be sufficient for my needs. I am just an average photographer who enjoys his hobby.

In camera correction

The 5D Mk iii can correct aberrations, etc with this function enabled and for lenses that it recognizes. Canon also says that with third party lenses one should disable the function because it may confuse a third party lens with a canon lens and apply the wrong correction. I find that tough to buy, but it begs the following questions:1. I assume your tests are with this function disabled. If that's true, and I turn it on, for lenses that it recognizes, does it improve the score?2. After seeing the Sigma prime results, I would like to purchase them, but I'm not happy about turning off the corrections for my Canon lenses. What would you do? Disable the correction?3. I assume if I use DxO optics Pro (about to buy it), that it would apply the corrections in any event- true?Thanks, Bob (everything I do is RAW. Have a 1Dx and am about to purchase a 5D Mk iii)

First replies for this comment

Re: In camera correction

Hello!

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

Your assumptions are good:- we effectively disable every correction on RAW to only evaluate lens quality- Optics Pro will correct every lenses listed.- About turning off the correction it is up to you!

Review including RAW conversion

I love your data and particularly value that lenses are reviewed in conjunction with camera bodies. I'm also a user of DxO Optics Pro for several years and sometimes use other Raw conversion products that include Digital Lens Optimization, such as Canon's Digital Photo Professional. Optics Pro and similar lens optimization programming included in Raw converters can make a huge difference in the final image quality of the images processed with them.

I'm frustrated that I can't see the lens performance rating after correction. I realize that's a huge can of worms, but digital lens correction and optimization is an important part of the digital imaging system (lens/camera/software). DxO has had a leadership position in this area for years, an yet I've never seen DxOMark apply its analysis to the corrected images of a lens/camera combination.

Don't you think that this would be very useful? Even if you do a limited sample, I think applying the quantitative analysis would be very informative, particularly when applied to a zoom lens.

I see this clearly in my own photography, particularly with my Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS. Without correction, that lens isn't anywhere near the same performance level as my EF 70-200mm f/4L IS or my EF 500mm f/4L IS. It's not even close, but after correction, the results are very good.

First replies for this comment

Re: Review including RAW conversion

Hello!

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

It is indeed a very interesting request. For now lens and camera measurements are only performed on RAW. We do not plan in a short future to perform test after raw conversion (our partner (DPReview or Focus Numérique do that).

Please help me understand how the sensor plays into the lens sharpness

How does lens sharpness increase so significantly from the 5DII to the 5DIII when using the same lens? Also, how do the same lens have such higher sharpness score on the D800 vs D7000, which have the same pixel density? Obviously this sharpness number depends on the sensor somehow, but it is not explained.

Re: 5d and 17-40

Nikon D600 vs. Canon 5D Mark III

It will be very interesting when DxOMark publishes it's full D600 recommended lens review (it appears late as it was promised for the end of April?) to see how it performs against the Canon 5D Mark III....since the MP count between those two cameras is much closer than between the D800 and the 5D Mark III.

There is already some early evidence from DxOMark testing that the D600 outperforms the D4, D3, D3s and D3X and is very close to the D800 on certain lenses (for example in the recent Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR II review).

I have been wondering if the full DxOMark lens tests with the D600 are going to show that the D600 delivers the best overall value in terms of overall DxOMark scores and sharpness scores. I know I've been blow away by the results I've been getting with my D600 and Nikon 70-200 f/4 VR.

First replies for this comment

Re: Nikon D600 vs. Canon 5D Mark III

I guess you have seen it already. - The cat is out of the sack.- The D600 is definetly on the same level with the D800 and thus outperforms the Canon 5D Mark III.

Best example ist the DxO Mark value for the 85 mm primes. - The D800 and D600 reach values of 40 with the best lenses. - The Canon 5d Mark III's best value is at 35. 5 Points are quite a noticable difference in IQ, I suspekt.

Veeery Interesting!!

Wide and ultra-wide angle prime (fixed focal length)

Hi DxOIn the above article on lenses for Canon 5D MkIII, the comparison table shows the Canon EF 24mm f1.4L II USM as tying 3rd place score-wise with Carl Zeis Distagon T35MM f2 ZE for Canon, yet the note under the comparison table says,"The two top rated wide-angle lenses are moderate wide-angles, followed by Canon's highly rated EF 24mm f1.4 II USM".Is this a purposeful promotion of Canon over the Carl Zeis lens? Could you be bending to corporate pressure from Canon? I was hoping your editorial comments were completely independent.